Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Less than a week after the ousting of the nation’s first
Islamist president, the Muslim Brotherhood has called for a revolt in Egypt.

The Brotherhood, including its political wing, Freedom and Justice
Party, called on millions of Muslim followers to attack Egypt’s military and
other opponents. In a statement on July 8, the Brotherhood cited the ousting
of President Mohammed Morsi as well as the killing of scores of his
followers.

“It calls on the great Egyptian people to rise up against those who want to steal their revolution with tanks and armored vehicles, even over the dead bodies of the people,” the Brotherhood said.

The Brotherhood warned that Egypt could turn into another Syria, which has undergone more than two years of civil war. The statement appealed to the international community “to intervene to stop further massacres and prevent a new Syria in the Arab world.”

The statement was issued hours after at least 54 people were killed in a violent protest in front of Egypt’s Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo, believed to contain Morsi since he was overthrown in a military coup on July 3. The Brotherhood said Egyptian troops opened fire thousands of followers during dawn prayer on July 8.

“Morsi supporters were praying while the police and army fired live
rounds and tear gas at them,” the Brotherhood said. “This led to around 35
dead and the figure is likely to rise.”

The Brotherhood’s call for a revolt followed that of Islamist insurgents
inside and outside Egypt. Al Qaida was said to have encouraged followers to
fight the U.S.-backed military in Egypt.

Officials said the Brotherhood, believed to have up to 20 million
supporters in Egypt, has been operating militias throughout the country.
They said many of them included former soldiers and equipped with weapons
that range from firearms to rocket-propelled grenades.

The Egyptian military acknowledged the casualties in front of Republican
Guard headquarters. A military statement said “armed terrorists” stormed the
headquarters and one officer was killed.

“We did not attack the protesters,” military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali
said. “Rather, we were defending a military facility. They moved on us to
provoke our soldiers and create this violent scene.”

  Col. Ahmed Ali, Freedom and Justice Party, Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood calls for revolt; military blame ‘armed terrorist’ for violence, Republican Guard